Separating means for metallic loom-heddles.



4 0 9 1 w E Nv U J E T N B T A P D R W 0 H Nb. 0 7 7 1 =6 7 0 vN YSEPARAT IING MEANS FOR META-LL10 Loom HBDDLES.

. APPLICATION NLRB 141:. so; 1904. N0 11101551..

Patented June '7, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. HOWARD, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, CORPORA- TION OF MAINE.

SEPARATING MEANS FOR METALLIC LOOM-HEDDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 761,677, dated June '7, 1904. -Application filed March 80,1904. Serial No. 200,682. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of I-Iopedale, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Separating Means for Metallic Loom-Heddles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to loom-harness of the type wherein a series of thin flat metallic heddles having warp-reoeiving eyes are strung upon and suspended from a supporting crossbar forming a part of the harness-frame. In such apparatus the constant and rapid vertical reciprocation of the harness-frames and the movement of the warp-threads in forming the shed cause the heddles to sway laterally, so that they will not move up and down in vertical paths. This swaying is objectionable, because of the irregular and uneven appearance of the cloth, apparently due to the difference in the tension and displacement of the warp-threads, and when the heddles also serve as warp-stopmotion controlling detectors, as is frequently the case, the objection is even greater, because the lower ends of the heddles are moved out of the path of the normally vibrating feeler. As a result, warp failure is not promptly detected, and thestop-motion fails to operate.

My present invention has for its object the production of simple and novel means to divide the heddles into relatively small groups or sections, so that the objectionable swaying and lateral displacement is obviated.

he novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification, and particularly pointed out in the following claims.-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a harness-frame provided with metallic heddles with one embodiment of my invention applied thereto, the heddles being also adapted to serve as warp-stop-motion-controlling detectors. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking toward the left. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail, enlarged, of a portion of the supporting crossbar of a harness-frame, showing the separating means for the heddles applied thereto; and Fig. A is a cross-sectional view on the line 4: A, Fig. 3.

The vertically-reciprocating harness-fran1es have their upright side bars 4; connected by a cross-bar 5 at the top of the frame, the crossbar being flattened and set on edge, as usual.

The heddles 1, made of flat thin metallic strips, each having a warp-eye 2, are slotted. at or near their upper ends at 3 to receive the cross-bar, the latter supporting the heddles,

substantially as in United States Patent No. 590,551. Inasmuch as such metallic heddles are generally arranged to serve as controlling-detectors for a warp-stop-motion instrumentality, the slots 3 are elongated and considerably longer than the depth of the bar 5, from which they are suspended.

The transverse back plate 8, extended between the lower cnds of the heddles of two adjacent frames, the oscillating rock-shafts 9 9,

and the attached feelers 10 10 to cooperate with a heddle of one of the frames when released by failure of its warp-thread are all of well-known construction and familiar to those skilled in the art, the rock-shafts turning in opposite directions by means of inter meshing segments 11.

In order to separate the heddles into relatively small groups, I provide a rod 12, preferably flattened on one of its longitudinal faces, as 13, and long enough to extend beyond the bank of heddles at each side, the rod being of such size in cross-section as to slip readily through the slots 3 of the heddles.

A series of projections (shown as pins 15) are secured to the rod and extend at right angles thereto, said pins being herein shown as passing through the rod and projecting at each side thereof. The pins are spaced apart according to the desired grouping of the heddles, the rod being turned to bring the pins lengthwise of the heddles, and then the bar is passed through the slots 3 beneath the supporting cross-bar 5. The heddles are then shaken along the bar 5 to dispose them with substantial uniformity along the same. The rod 12 is turned to cause the pins 15 to extend fore and aft between the heddles, dividing them into groups or sections, and the rod is secured to the cross-bar, the flat lower edge or face 6 thereof contacting with and forming a firm seat for the face 13 of the rod. Suitable means are provided to connect the rod With the cross-bar and also to prevent it from turning or twisting. Herein spring-clamps 16 are shown for this purpose bent into substantially U shape, the legs of the clamp gripping the opposite sides of the cross-bar and the rod 12, while the longer leg 17 is bent across, as at 18, to project beneath the rod and hold it up against the cross-bar, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and t. One of the clamps is applied to the cross-bar 5 at each end of the bank of heddles, and they serve to maintain the rod in position, the latter having no weight to carry other than that of the pins 15.

It will be obvious that the separating means can be used whether the heddles are used merely as such or whether they are also warpstop-motion-controlling detectors, as in the construction herein illustrated.

By extending the separating-pins oppositely from the rod any twisting tendency of the heddles is overcome, and the separation of the latter into small groups or sections prevents their lower ends from lateral displacement during the shedding operation.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a loom, in combination, a harnessframe provided with slotted metallic heddles, and separating means therefor movable with the frame, comprising a rod extended through the heddle-slots and provided with transverse projections to extend between and divide the heddles into groups or sections.

2. In a loom, in combination, a harnessframe provided with slotted metallic heddles, and having a supporting cross-bar extended through the heddle-slots, and a rod extended through the slots below the cross-bar and provided with transverse projections to extend between and divide the heddles into groups or sections.

3. In a loom, in combination, a series of slotted metallic heddles, a harness-frame having a cross-bar extended through the slots of and suspending the heddles, and separating means for the latter and movable with the frame, comprising a rod extended through the heddle-slots below said cross-hm, and transverse pins on and at right angles to the rod, to extend between and divide the heddles into groups or sections.

4. In a loom, in combination, a harness frame provided with slotted metallic heddles, and having a supporting cross-bar extended through the heddles, and a rod extended through the slots below the cross-bar and provided with transverse projections to extend between and divide the heddles into groups or sections, and means to connect said rod with the cross-bar.

5. In a loom, in combination, a harness frame having a heddle-supporting cross-bar, a series of metallic heddles having elongated slots through which said cross-bar is extended, said heddles serving also as warp-stop-motioncontrolling detectors, a rod extended through the elongated slots innnediately below the cross-bar and movable in unison therewith, and transverse pins on and at right angles to the rod, to extend between and divide the heddles into groups or sections.

6. In a loom, in combination, a harnessframe having a heddle-supporting cross-bar, a series of metallic heddles having elongated slots through which said cross-bar is extended, said heddles serving also as warp-stop-motion-controlling detectors, a rod extended through the elongated slots immediately below the cross-bar, transverse pins on and at right angles to said rod, to extend between and divide the heddles into groups or sections, and clamps to connect the rod with the cross-bar and prevent turning or twisting of the former.

7. In a loom, in combination, a harnessframe having a heddle-supperting cross-bar having a flat lower edge, a series of longitudinally-slotted metallic heddles serving also as warp-stopmotion-controlling detectors, the cross-bar extending through the slots, :1 rod extended through the slots beneath the bar and having a fiat side to rest against the flattened lower edge of said bar, transverse. pins on and at right angles to the rod, to extend between and divide the heddles into groups, and means to hold the flat faces of the cross-bar and rod in engagement and prevent turning of the latter.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES S. .l'IO\VAh.D.

itnesses:

Gnonen OTIS DRAPER, ERNEs'r \V. \Voon. 

